Initializes the database. This must be called before calling any other database routines, including the construction of any nodes, paths, engines, or actions.

Returns a character string identifying the version of the Inventor library in use.

Reads a graph from the file specified by the given SoInput, returning a pointer to the resulting root node in rootNode, or a pointer to the resulting path in path. The programmer is responsible for determining which routine to use, based on the contents of the input. These routines return FALSE if any error occurred during reading.

If the passed SoInput was used to open a file and the name of the file contains a directory, SoDB automatically adds the directory to the end of the current directory search path in the SoInput. This means that nested files named in SoFile nodes may be found relative to that directory. The directory is removed from the search path when reading is complete.

Reads all graphs and paths from the file specified by the given SoInput. If there is only one graph in the file and its root is an SoSeparator, a pointer to the root is returned. In all other cases, this creates an SoSeparator, adds the root nodes of all graphs read as children of it, and returns a pointer to it. This returns NULL on error. This processes directory paths in the same way as the other reading routines.

This returns TRUE if the given character string is one of the valid Inventor file headers, (e.g. "#Inventor V2.0 binary"), or if the string has been registered as a valid header through the registerHeader method.

Registers the given string as a valid header for input files. The string must be 80 characters or less, and start with the comment character '#'. If the passed isBinary flag is true, any file with this header will be read as a binary file. Usually, a user-defined header represents a file format that is a superset of the Inventor file format. The ivVersion number indicates which Inventor file version this header corresponds to. The user-defined callback functions preCB and postCB are called before and after a file with this header is read. The userData is passed to both callback functions. The method returns TRUE if the header is successfully registered. Note, nothing prevents you from registering the same string multiple times.

Passes back the data registered with the given header string, including the flag specifying whether the string is for a binary file, pointers to the callback functions invoked before and after reading the file, and a pointer to the user data passed to the callback functions. If the given header string does not match any of the registered headers, and the substringOK flag is TRUE, then the method will search for a registered header that is a substring of the given string. The method returns TRUE if a matching registered header, or subheader, was found.

Returns the number of valid headers, including standard Inventor headers, and user-registered headers.

Returns the i'th header.

The database maintains a namespace for global fields, making sure that there is at most one instance of a global field with any given name in the database. This routine is used to create new global fields. If there is no global field with the given name, it will create a new global field with the given name and type. If there is already a global field with the given name and type, it will return it. If there is already a global field with the given name but a different type, this returns NULL.

All global fields must be derived from SoField; typically the result of this routine is cast into the appropriate type; for example:

Returns the global field with the given name, or NULL if there is none. The type of the field may be checked using the SoField::isOfType(), SoField::getClassTypeId(), and SoField::getTypeId() methods.

Renames the global field named oldName. Renaming a global field to an empty name ("") deletes it. If there is already a global field with the new name, that field will be deleted (the getGlobalField method can be used to guard against this).

The database automatically creates one global field when SoDB::init() is called. The realTime global field, which is of type SoSFTime, can be connected to engines and nodes for real-time animation. The database will automatically update the realTime global field 12 times per second, using a timer sensor. Typically, there will be a node sensor on the root of the scene graph which schedules a redraw whenever the scene graph changes; by updating the realTime global field periodically, scene graphs that are connected to realTime (and are therefore animating) will be redrawn. The rate at which the database updates realTime can be controlled with this routine. Passing in a zero time will disable automatic update of realTime. If there are no enabled connections from the realTime field to any other field, the sensor is automatically disabled. .p Note that the SoSceneManager class automatically updates realTime immediately after redrawing, which will result in as high a frame rate as possible if the scene is continuously animating. The SoDB::setRealTimeInterval method ensures that engines that do not continuously animate (such as SoTimeCounter) will eventually be scheduled.

Returns how often the database is updating realTime.

This sets the timeout value for sensors that are delay queue sensors (one-shot sensors, data sensors). Delay queue sensors are triggered whenever there is idle time. If a long period of time elapses without any idle time (as when there are continuous events to process), these sensors may not be triggered. Setting this timeout value ensures that if the specified length of time elapses without any idle time, the delay queue sensors will be processed anyway.

Returns the current delay queue timeout value.

In order to keep timer and idle sensors running as expected, it is necessary that an Inventor application not block waiting for input. If the Inventor application uses the Xt utility library, this can be handled automatically. However, if the application is using its own event loop, this function is provided as a wrapper around select(2) that will handle Inventor tasks if necessary instead of blocking.